VIETNAMESE TROOPS RELOCATED IN LAOS WORRY THAILAND

Intelligent information from Vientiane said Vietnamese troops, battalion #213, crossed Mekong River to northern border of Lao-Thai in Sayaburi Province. The troops were disappeared into the jungle border Lao-Thai to prepare to fight against the Lao Freedom Fighters. But a senior Lao military intelligent said the troops are a security force and are not preparing to fight against the Freedom Fighters but against drug traders. The general also said that there are no Freedom Fighters in the areas.

The information further said Lao Ministry of Defense ordered the Army Department to transfer a young Hmong army officer name Sue Yang, whom the department just recently appointed to take over the Krom Pachai in Xieng Khouang Province, to southern Laos effective October 2000. The reason in that is because some military officers in the south are not capable to stay on duty. Some of the officers are ignoring their duties. Some are so friendly with Thai people, especially Thai businessmen.

Mr. Yang will be placed in Champasak to oversee the battalion in that area. Considering that some of the Krom Pachai units may go with him. Most of the Krom Pachai soldiers are Hmongs.

Coincidently, another fear for Thailand is the Moung Thong, the Thai Communist Forces. The Moung Thong leaders are in Vientiane. Their stations are based in Sayaburi Province. There are more than 100 of their leader who are living in Thailand in low profile. The Moung Thong’s plan is to take I-San for independence. Vientiane and Hanoi strongly support Moung Thong. Vietnamese troops now move to Sayaburi make Moung Thong breaths little easier? Two strong leaders in Moung Thong Forces are Thai and Hmong.

Moung Thong before 1979 was strongly supported by Peking. After the Royal Thai Government open its door, which the program called “Thai Ruam Phathana Chat,” mostly the Hmong surrendered to the government and came to join the program. The rest of them then crossed to Laos and stay there until today.

In 1990, the Soviet Union left Laos. The USSR left behind more than $50 million dollars for Moung Thong using to do business and political campaign. Their business is mainly timber and travel, including drug.

Muong Thong still has connection with China and Russia. The Chinese construction company in northern Laos has a good contact with Moung Thong. No body knows the Vietnamese troops are going to deal with the Chinese in the northern provinces. The source said, if Vietnamese troops keep moving toward the north, Vientiane must pay for the price that may delay or damage to the construction the Chinese company are now doing. Conflict between Beijing and Hanoi over Laos now exists.

Vietnamese troops move to northern Lao-Thai border, while Hmong Krom Pachai merge into the southern Laos. Chinese’s influence in Myanmar and northern Laos may worry Thailand.